Oh My Girl have been through several distinct musical iterations, but many fans remember them best for the fairy-like, ethereal quality of early singles like Closer and Windy Day. It’s been awhile since they’ve revisited this style and new title track Classified seeks to recapture some of that magic.
Like agency-mates ONF earlier this year, Oh My Girl have slowed the tempo and increased the symphonic bombast for Classified. While the song’s verses employ a steady beat as the backdrop to an ornate strings arrangement, the chorus opts for a more subdued delivery. Its combination of orchestral flourishes and trap beats feels more in line with modern Red Velvet than old-school Oh My Girl, but the group’s vocals add their own personal stamp.
I appreciate Classified‘s desire to bring something different than most girl groups of the moment, but I may respect its intentions more than I love the song itself. The music strikes an awkward middle point — too restless for the melodies to truly breathe, yet not grand enough to take full advantage of its symphonic heft. It sounds like a music box spinning on double speed, which is an oddly disorienting proposition. On the plus side, Classified‘s quirks are likely to age well over time and the song feels tailor-made for live performances. The very things that give me pause today may just turn out to be strengths in the long run.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Oh i initially did not like how the teasers sounded but this is really beautiful and surprisingly good!
8.75/10👑👑👑
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I’m so glad they decided to return to something closer to their older style. As an OG fan I really missed it and pretty happy with Classified. Will be on my playlist fa sure. I think they were missing a real climax to close out the song but I’ll see if my minds changes in more listens
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I like it! This reminds me of “Feel My Rhythm” in a good way. Oh My Girl pulls this symph-pop genre off pretty well.
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Review is spot-on, the song reminds me more of recent Red Velvet songs than of classic Oh My Girl. There is a hint of “The Fifth Season” throughout, which really just made me want to listen to that song again.
On a less relevant note, I am relieved to see that YooA looks like herself in this MV. I thought she’d done something especially drastic to her face, but I think they just made some questionable makeup/styling decisions for her last solo comeback. (Along with questionable musical decisions, but we know about that already.)
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I small eel like it. It is nice to have these ladies back and to hear their voices again. Also in a dreamy quirky song in full OMG style. 0:26 is all classic OMG subverting our expectations for what chromatic progression will be next.
That said, its as if the producers made a deliberate choice to be extra jaunty in the song, and it is sure distracting. There are parts where it literally and figuratively feels like a horse cantering then down to trot, then back to canter, with the occasional bump over an obstacle. Trying to be both and succeeding at neither.
For example, at 1:01 the two descending lines of pre-chorus are fantastic. All legato what-scale-is-that vocalise. Being wedged between the canter and the trot, the loveliness is almost wasted. The lines almost mimic the 0:26 line but not quite. We are on edge just like their classic Windy Day and Coloring Book but not as seamlessly.
I’ll still take it anyway. Somewhere in the 8’s for me.
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It’s no Secret Garden or Closer, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a different yet familiar sound that’ll be a great addition to their already amazing discography. I’m sure the song will age really well.
I also think it was made to be performed live, so I’m looking forward to music show performances already.
So, yeah, mid to high 8’s for me.
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I think I preferred the teaser tbh.
Why did they give Mimi singing lines and then still give an awkward rap to her, too?
Just too fast. A lot of the verses come off as talky because they don’t have a chance to draw out the note.
Idk it seems like the various parts just don’t gel. The instrumental is pretty but the vocals don’t seem in sync with it.
Also the part beginning around 1 minute https://youtu.be/VPg-HtAUeRQ?t=60 (and also the La La Las in the beginning) sounds like Lovelyz’s Baby Doll https://youtu.be/ILee9Ctb-rc?t=12
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I am the odd one out here! There are some parts of this song that I appreciate, but as a whole I really do not like this.
The start-and-stoppy beats are at fault here. I think this may be a specific quirk of mine, but this production is almost physically uncomfortable for me to listen to. It makes me feel like I’m in a car with a driver who is slamming on the breaks repeatedly.
I’ m glad other people are able to appreciate this more than me, though. I have always loved OMGs music and it’ s great to see them back with an interesting song that stands out.
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